One of the biggest joys of my life is finding new music to fall in love with. Often, this means scouring the “New Releases” tab of Apple Music to find fresh albums and songs to latch on to. But in a year where many of the most popular music releases have been a little underwhelming, I’ve found myself listening to less and less popular music in favor of slightly more underground or niche artists. This experience has led me to find a whole host of new songs to fall in love with — songs I’d now like to share, in no particular order.
DOMI & JD BECK feat. Anderson .Paak — TAKE A CHANCE
Domi and JD Beck have been described as “Gen Z jazz prodigies” by The Guardian.
Anderson .Paak may have forfeited the right to be called alternative after releasing a collab album with Bruno Mars, but his proteges, Domi & JD Beck, certainly haven’t. The French/American jazz duo released their debut album, Not Tight, last year, and the lead single “Take a Chance” is an absolutely phenomenal jazz-rap track that features tight verses from Paak, creative drumwork from JD Beck, and one of the most gorgeous hooks I’ve ever heard on any song ever. Plus, the song serves as a more easily palatable gateway into the duo’s more experimental jazz material, which is also worth a listen.
Defining lyrics: “God won’t give me more than I can handle/I’m rich, but I can’t afford to have a scandal.”
Anna Shoemaker — Holly
Keep an eye out for Anna Shoemaker’s EP Hey Anna, out June 23, 2023.
Anna Shoemaker is a young singer-songwriter from Philadelphia who knows how to write compelling lyrics and a sticky melody. “Holly” has rapidly become my most-played song of 2023 with its unbelievably catchy chorus and thumping indie-pop beat. The song features Anna’s soaring vocals and lyrics about longing and insecurity. Believe me, once you hear it, it won’t get out of your head for weeks.
Defining lyrics: “Last time I was at his place, I was way too weird, I couldn’t stay.”
Ally Evenson — Bite My Tongue
Ally Evenson strikes me as a young Mitski ready to take over the indie scene.
Ally Evenson is an enormously talented up-and-coming singer from Detroit who has a small catalog but enormous potential. Her soft, soothing voice is remarkably good at conveying deep emotions of heartbreak and despair, and, combined with soaring rock production, has created some of my favorite songs of the last year. This track, written to an abusive former partner, features one of the most chill-inducing climaxes of any song I’ve heard recently. If you like this song, you’ll undoubtedly love other tracks including “I Can’t Feel (My Body)” and “Sinister.”
Defining lyrics: “I bite my tongue, hold my breath/And for what, I don’t know, I guess/Maybe I failed at something you did right.”
Brakence — 5g
Brakence’s raw talent is unparalleled in the hyperpop genre.
Even if you’re a hyperpop skeptic like I was for a few years, this song might convert you to the gospel of Brakence. “5g” is a maximalist ballad about phone addiction and the anxiety of online life. The production blends hip-hop, indie, and glitchy electronic music in a way that probably shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Brakence’s voice oscillates between intense emo-style belting to soft, gentle crooning, creating a disorienting but truly one-of-a-kind experience. This song feels like riding a rollercoaster, or maybe injecting pop rocks directly into your veins.
Defining lyrics: “They’re laying waste to a new biome to make a case for the new iPhone.”
Boylife — Amphetamine
Ryan Yoo can do whatever he wants to.
Boylife is the project of Ryan Yoo, a producer, singer, and rapper who effortlessly combined a wide array of musical styles to create a genre-bending album in 2021’s gelato. The standout track is “Amphetamine,” a short and electric pop ballad with contrasts raunchy lyrics with sugary sweet production and pitched-up vocals. Yoo’s obvious talent on this album, as well as his contributions to BROCKHAMPTON’s 2022 album The Family, makes him one of the most exciting artists to watch in the coming years.
Defining lyrics: “You got control of my amphetamines” [whatever that means]
Better Oblivion Community Center — Dylan Thomas
These two forming a band is like KD joining the Warriors—just not fair.
Everyone knows Phoebe Bridgers by now, but did you know she has a collab album with Conor Oberst, the musical genius behind Bright Eyes? This entire album is incredible, but “Dylan Thomas” stands out for its insanely strong songwriting. Phoebe and Conor mostly sing in unison for the whole song, and their voices mesh together beautifully with the roaring guitars and driving drums that give this song its infectious energy. Plus, because it’s Phoebe Bridgers, there are some truly crushing lyrics.
Defining lyrics: “I’m getting used to these dizzy spells, I’m taking a shower at the Bates Motel.”
Quadeca — Born Yesterday
This kid has come a long way.
If you were at all cognizant of a weird corner of ultra-cringey YouTube rap circa 2017, you may have heard of Quadeca, who most people wrote off at the time as a teenage Eminem clone who made corny diss tracks on fellow YouTubers. Over the last few years, Quadeca has completed a remarkable metamorphosis into a profoundly compelling and innovative artist who makes heady concept albums and a type of music he has described as “folktronica.” “Born Yesterday” is a stunning six-minute ballad that starts simply and builds into an explosive climax and a long, crushing come-down. This song is an undeniable masterpiece and a testament to the incredible transformations artists can undergo in a few short years.
Defining lyrics: “All those little things I should’ve said out loud/Every little thing I did to make you proud.”
— Caleb Ringger
The Stumptown Groove 